Dickens Village Festival

Dickens- The Very Beginning

Posted 12/04/14 (Thu)

Yes you have it- it’s our 20^th Anniversary at this year’s Dickens Village Festival!  The extraordinary event began 20 years ago in 1994, when Pat Koenig had a vision to put on “A Christmas Carol” play production through the Sakakawea Area Council for the Arts.  Jude Iverson teamed up with Pat and the brainstorming began- creating the Dickens Village Festival happening over 3 weekends.  The McLean County Independent stated that the original idea was to unite the community, both merchants and residents, with one theme during the holiday season and it did just that.  From the very beginning, the Dickens Village Festival has not only grown to become the premier event during a North Dakota winter, but also has become an event that brings our community working together to create a Victorian village.  Since the start, things have grown but there are many things that still remain the very first image and thought of the Dickens Village Festival. 

A look at the 1^st Dickens Festival:

- Organization of the event consisted of 10 committees: downtown decorating, park decorating, business promotion, transportation, resource, residential decorating, tours & food, outdoor activities, crafts & activities, public promotion, and ideas.

- Play Production: 57 member cast, $6.00/ticket, drew about 1,400 people

- House Tours: Robin’s Nest, Norlan & Marge Nelson home, First Congregational Church; $2.00/ticket

- Street Food Vendors: Baked potato on a stick (Dick Hendrickson), Pickled Fish (Garrison Fire Department), Apples (Bob Callies Elementary teachers), Hot-cross-buns (St. Paul Lutheran Church)

- Information Center: Garrison Motel

- Other activities: First Congregational English High Tea, English Market Craft Show, and more.

Look at how far we have came... Now, 20 years is a lot to be proud of!